30 July 2024, Seoul. Philippine National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Chair Victorino Mapa Manalo, took part in a K-Fellowship Program organized by the ROK Government from 7-13 July 2024.

Among the ROK institutions which the NCCA Delegation met and visited include the National Archives of Korea, ARKO Art Museum, UNESCO heritage site of Gyeongju, National Museum of Korea, International Centre for Documentary Heritage, National Gugak Center, and Museum of Korean Contemporary History.

Chairperson Manalo likewise discussed enhanced bilateral engagement between the Philippines and Korea with the planned signing of the PH-ROK Executive Program (2024-2029) of the 1970 Cultural Agreement between PH and ROK.

While in Seoul, NCCA Chair Manalo likewise visited the Sentro Rizal of the Philippine Embassy which a Public Assembly Hall, a Conference Room-Library and a separate Sentro Rizal Reading Lounge.

Chair Manalo met with Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-de Vega and Cultural Officer Anthony Cornista on Sentro Rizal activities as well as the cultural diplomacy programs of Post, particularly for the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of PH-ROK relations from March 2024-March 2025.

The Embassy likewise invited representatives from various Korean public and private cultural and art institutions including the ROK National Museum of Contemporary Art, KOFICE, and the Hansea YES Foundation to meet Chair Manalo and discuss future cultural exchanges.

The NCCA worked closely with the Philippine Embassy in arranging for a special performance by the renowned MEN Ensemble during the Philippine National Day program of the Embassy in Seoul last June 2024. END